Global Entry is now free for kids — here’s what you need to know

Global Entry is a Truster Traveler Program that grants expedited customs clearance for preapproved, low-risk travelers entering the U.S. through dedicated security lanes at more than 75 airports.

There have been some recent changes to the Global Entry program that are a mix of good and bad news.

First, the bad news. Beginning on Oct. 1, the application fee for a five-year Global Entry membership will now cost $120. This marks the first Global Entry price increase since 2009 — but that doesn’t make the 20% fee hike sting any less for travelers who use the program.

Related reading: Global Entry vs. TSA PreCheck: Which is more beneficial?

The good news is that applicants under the age of 18 are now exempt from the application fee if a parent or legal guardian is already a member or is also applying for Global Entry. Before, it would cost a family of four $400 to apply for Global Entry ($100 per person, regardless of age). Under the new rule, a family of four that includes two kids will pay only $240 to apply for Global Entry ($120 for each adult, $0 for each child under 18).

While this isn’t necessarily happy news if you are applying as an individual or a couple, families with children can now save hundreds of dollars on application fees. Or you may decide to register your children for the first time now that the program isn’t as cost-prohibitive as it once was.

Like Global Entry, the application fees for Nexus and SENTRI, two of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s other Trusted Traveler Programs, are also now $120, but children under the age of 18 can apply for free. Nexus is a joint program managed by the CBP and the Canada Border Services Agency that allows expedited processing between the U.S. and Canada, while SENTRI does the same between the U.S. and Mexico.

To apply for any of the above-mentioned Trusted Traveler Programs, visit the U.S. Department of Homeland Security‘s website and click on the “Get Started” button for the program you wish to apply for. Then, create or log in to your Trusted Traveler Program account (if you are a first-time applicant, you’ll have to set up a new account).

You’ll then complete the online portion of the application process by entering identifying information and travel and residency history; completing a criminal background check; and verifying your U.S. citizenship via your passport and driver’s license information. When you submit the online portion of your application, you will pay the $120 application fee.

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You still need to complete an in-person interview before your application can be fully approved. If you are conditionally approved, you may be able to complete this process when you return to the U.S. if arriving at an airport that participates in Enrollment on Arrival. Otherwise, you will need to schedule an appointment at an enrollment center before your next international trip if you hope to utilize expedited entry upon your return. Most applications are approved within two weeks, but the CBP says that some can take up to 12 months or longer to be processed.

Even though kids under 18 are now free, there are also ways for adults to save money on Global Entry application fees by using the right credit card. You will still need to pay the fee during the application process, but several credit cards will reimburse the fee in the form of a credit statement when you use the card to pay your application fee.

Here are the top credit cards with a Global Entry application fee reimbursement benefit:

Families who want to save money on expedited reentry to the U.S. are in luck now that kids under the age of 18 can apply for free. Sounds like it’s time to start planning your next big family vacation.

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